The Central Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission (CCDR), also translated as the Central Commission for Deepening Reform, is a policy formulation and implementation body of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in charge of "Comprehensively Deepening Reforms". These reforms are intended to be even more far-reaching than the previous round of reform and opening up initiated by Deng Xiaoping.
The commission's main task is to determine policy guidelines for reforming the economic, political, cultural, social, ethical and party-building systems in order to address long-term reform issues, as well as to guide reform-related bodies of the CCP at central and local level, and supervise the implementation of reform plans. The CCDR has local branches, which oversee the implementation of policy guidelines issued at the central level.
The CCDR consists entirely of officials of at least "deputy national leader" rank in the official hierarchy. Most of the commission's members are also members of the Politburo of the CCP, a 25-member central decision-making body. Four of the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee are also part of the group.
History
The commission was originally established as the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms (). The decision to establish the group was announced at the third plenary session of the 18th Central Committee in November 2013, which also approved a Decision of the CCP Central Committee on Comprehensively Deepening Reforms. On 30 December 2013, the Politburo announced that the group had been formed with Xi Jinping, the CCP's General Secretary and China's president, as its leader (zuzhang), and Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan, and Zhang Gaoli as deputy leaders (fuzuzhang). Observers stated that this would mark a change, as previously policy planning was the domain of the Premier. In March 2018, the leading group is transformed to be a commission as part of the deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions; called the Central Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission.
From its first meeting in early 2014 through the end of 2022, the commission convened 66 times, and has deliberated on 542 high-profile policy documents. It met 38 times during Xi's first term and 27 times in his second. Policy documents issued by the CCDR have largely covered policy guidance or long-term plans, with those types accounting for 54% and 25% of CCDR published documents respectively. Over three quarters of publicly released CCDR documents are later formally issued by the CCP Central Committee and the State Council.
Role The commission has become the primary mechanism for top-level policymaking. Domestic structural issues are its policy focus. The CCDR meets regularly, convening roughly every six to eight weeks. It generally meets seven times annually to discuss policy on six main areas; the economic system and ecological civilization, democracy and the legal system, the cultural system, the social system, Party building, and the discipline inspection system. In practice, the Xi-chaired commission outranks state administration decision-making organs, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council. Despite its powerful influence, the commission is a Party body and does not have the formal authority to make law.
Procedure Each year, the CCDR identifies key reform priorities within its designated domains. It deliberates on and approves strategic policies in this area, with the drafting and implementing of policies being delegated to either government ministries or local branches of the commission. These other bodies submit reports to the central commission or the appropriate subgroups for further validation and guidance.
After the process is complete, the finished draft policy document is submitted to the CCDR for formal approval, which is then deliberated and approved during a meeting chaired by Xi and attended by other central leaders and heads of relevant agencies; at this point, the document is considered to have come into effect. Xi additionally gives a speech conveying the "spirit" of the policy and giving guidance for its implementation.
Afterwards, the implementing agencies arrange study sessions in order to develop "understanding" of the policy's "spirit" conveyed during the meeting and Xi's speech. The CCDR regularly reviews reports on the implementation, commonly submitted by local Comprehensively Deepening Reform Commissions. After the reports are presented, the CCDR issues instructions, usually leading to the implementation of new policies.
Organization The implementation of the CCDR's policy goals is delegated to six "special groups" within the commission. Each office has a specific policy focus, office and a high-ranking director.
Economic system and ecological civilization reform group Democracy and legal system reform special group Cultural Reform Commission Social system reform special group Special Committee for the Reform of the Party Building System Discipline inspection system reform special group The Office of the CCDR is located within the Central Policy Research Office (CPRO), which is itself located within the CCP General Office. The CCDR has local branches at the provincial, city, and county levels, as well as at state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which oversee detailed policy guidance implantation at the local level.
Membership 19th Committee Leader Xi Jinping (Politburo Standing Committee, Party General Secretary, State President) Deputy Leaders Li Keqiang (Politburo Standing Committee, Premier of the State Council) Wang Huning (Politburo Standing Committee, First secretary of the Secretariat) Han Zheng (Politburo Standing Committee, Vice Premier) Membership Not yet released publicly Office of Deepening Reform Wang Huning, director Mu Hong, executive deputy chief of the General Office (deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, minister-level)
20th Committee Leader Xi Jinping (Politburo Standing Committee, Party General Secretary, State President) Deputy Leaders Li Qiang (Politburo Standing Committee, Premier of the State Council) Wang Huning (Politburo Standing Committee, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) Cai Qi (Politburo Standing Committee, First Secretary of the Secretariat) Membership Not yet released publicly Office of Deepening Reform Wang Huning, director
Meetings
18th Central Committee DateContent122 January 2014Approved
Working Rules of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform Working Rules of the Special Group of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform "Working Rules of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform"228 February 2014 Approved "Key Points of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform in 2014" "Research Opinions on the Requirements and Tasks for Legislative Work Proposed by the Decision of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CCP Central Committee" "Report on Major Reforms of the Special Group on Economic System and Ecological Civilization System Reform" Implementation Plan for Deepening Cultural System Reform Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Judicial System and Social System and the Division of Work for Its Implementation Heard reports on the progress of reform work in various regions and departments since the first meeting of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform Deployed the current and future work36 June 2014Considered
Overall Plan for Deepening Fiscal and Taxation System Reform Opinions on Further Promoting the Reform of the Household Registration System
It is recommended that the proposal be further revised and improved based on the discussion at the meeting and then submitted for approval and implementation in accordance with the procedures.
Approved
Framework Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Pilot Reform of the Judicial System Shanghai Judicial Reform Pilot Work Plan "Proposal on the Establishment of an Intellectual Property Court"
Deployed the current and future work418 August 2014 Considered Reform Plan for the Remuneration System of the Main Persons in Charge of Centrally Managed Enterprises "Opinions on Rationally Determining and Strictly Regulating the Remuneration and Business Expenses of Central Enterprise Leaders" "Implementation Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Examination and Enrollment System" It is recommended that the proposal be further revised and improved based on the discussion at the meeting and then submitted for approval and implementation in accordance with the procedures. Approved "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Integrated Development of Traditional and Emerging Media" "Implementation Plan for Important Reform Measures of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CCP Central Committee (2014-2020)" Report on the Progress of Comprehensively Deepening Reform in the First Half of the Year Summarized the reform work, analyzed the reform situation, and deployed the next stage of work529 September 2014Considered
Opinions on guiding the orderly transfer of rural land contract management rights and developing moderate-scale agricultural operations Pilot Reform Plan for Actively Developing Farmers' Stock Cooperation and Granting Collective Assets Stock Rights "Plan on Deepening the Reform of Management of Central Finance Science and Technology Plans (Special Projects, Funds, etc.)"
It is recommended that the proposal be further revised and improved according to the discussion at the meeting and then submitted for approval and implementation in accordance with the procedures.习近平主持召开中央全面深化改革领导小组第五次会议 ，河北新闻网，2014-09-30627 October 2014Considered
Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Socialist Consultative Democracy Opinions on the Promotion of the Progress of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Replicable Reform Pilot Experience The Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of New Think Tanks with Chinese Characteristics was reviewed and approved. Opinions on Opening Major National Scientific Research Infrastructure and Large Scientific Research Instruments to the Public中央全面深化改革领导小组第六次会议召开 ，央广网，2014-10-2872 December 2014Considered
Opinions on the pilot work of rural land expropriation, collective commercial construction land entering the market, and homestead system reform "Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Modern Public Cultural Service System" Opinions on Establishing a Parallel System of Civil Servant Positions and Ranks in County-level and Lower-level Agencies Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's Resident Institutions
Approved
The Supreme People's Court 's Pilot Program for Establishing Circuit Courts Pilot Plan for Establishing People's Courts and People's Procuratorates Across Administrative Divisions
It is recommended that the proposal be further revised and improved based on the discussion at the meeting and then submitted for approval and implementation in accordance with the procedures.习近平主持召开中央全面深化改革领导小组第七次会议 李克强等出席 ，中国政府网，2014-12-02830 December 2014Approved
Summary Report on Comprehensively Deepening Reform in 2014 "Key Points of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform in 2015" "Key Points for Implementing the Important Measures of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CCP Central Committee in 2015"930 January 2015Approved
Implementation Plan for Further Deepening the Reform of the Judicial System and Social System by Implementing the Decision of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CCP Central Committee "Provincial (Autonomous Region, Municipality) Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary and Deputy Secretary Nomination and Examination Methods (Trial)"